Each state or area is graded on a five-star scale, with one star indicating
a particularly weak crop and five stars a particularly strong one. The
ratings are based on the level of talent a place generally produces, so
Southern California isn't graded on the same scale as Alaska.

The University of Nebraska may have a monopoly on the state's talenteight of the 10 best prospects either play for or are committed to the Cornhuskersbut the top player belongs to Bellevue, an NAIA school. The Huskers' best player (righthander Shane Komine) and recruit (third baseman Alex Gordon) both have been sidetracked by injuries.

Jimmy deMontel. Scouts rushed to see deMontel after the Major
League Scouting Bureau slapped a high grade on him during a Bellevue road trip to Texas. They found a 6-foot-4, 250-pound righthander throwing 91-94 mph with life on his fastball. He also has a decent breaking ball, and projects as a two-pitch reliever in the pros. He'll need to work diligently to keep his Charlie Kerfeldesque body in shape, something he hasn't done in the past but improved at this year. At 22, deMontel is old for a college sophomore. He missed time when the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee required surgery, and he spent a redshirt freshman year at Vernon (Texas) JC in 2001. A sore elbow left deMontel unavailable for much of Bellevue's playoff run, but he was expected to be ready for the NAIA World Series.

There are no Joe Mauers or Jack Hannahans this time around for the North Star State. Beyond intriguing lefthander Brett Nyquist, the state may not have another player taken in the first 10 rounds, especially if Minnesota outfielder Jason Kennedy signs as a fifth-year free agent before the draft.

Brett Nyquist.
A 6-foot-8, 210-pound lefthander, Nyquist threw in the 70s as a high schooler. Since coming to St. Scholastica, his velocity has jumped and he has become a legitimate prospect. How much depends on whom you ask. The NAIA school's radar gun has clocked him in the low 90s, but a scout who saw Nyquist at least five times says the school's gun isn't right. The scout never saw Nyquist top 89 mph, and he usually worked at 85-87 after a couple of innings. He's not athletic, so he doesn't repeat his delivery or command his pitches consistently. His changeup may be his best pitch and he has the makings of a decent curveball. Nyquist would be better off paring down his repertoire by scrapping his slider and split-finger. He dropped his arm slot too low this spring, affecting his velocity, the sharpness of his curve and his control. In his defense, Nyquist has had few chances to show his stuff in good weather or against quality competition.

Wisconsin's best high school prospect is a junior, righthander Cal Stanke. Its top college player may be Brooks Bollinger, better known as a quarterback at Wisconsinwhich doesn't field a baseball team. There won't be any early picks from the state this year.

Iowa has never had a high school player drafted in the first round, though the state's high schools have never been more productive than in the last two years. The drought would have ended last year had shortstop/righthander Matt Macri not been intent on attending Notre Dame. The Hawkeye State gets another chance this year with lefthanded slugger Jeff Clement, whose chances are boosted by the overall lack of catchers.

Jeff Clement, c
Clement is on the verge of making history. He can break Drew Henson's national career high school record for homers if he plays Iowa's summer season, and he could become the state's first high school player ever to go in the first round. He didn't help himself with a poor showing at the Perfect Game predraft showcase in mid-May. He excelled the previous week in front of several scouts, so he probably didn't do too much damage to his chances. He has a quick bat that gives him plus-plus power from the left side of the plate. He has a solid approach, though his pop has been inconsistent as he has hit with wood bats this spring. An adequate catcher with decent arm strength, Clement will have to work to stay behind the plate. Plans B and C would be third base and first base, and he has the power required for either position.

Projected Second- to Fifth-Round Picks

Zach Hammes, rhp
While Clements took a step back at the Perfect Game showcase, Hammes was the best pitcher at the event. He showed a lively 90-92 fastball that he delivered again and again with little effort. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, he projects to throw in the mid-90s. His curveball and changeup need work but show promise. He hasn't pitched for his high school team but has stood out in Perfect Game wood-bat leagues and spring showcases. He reminds scouts of Jeff Juden and that's meant as a complimentJuden was the 12th pick in the 1989 draft before embarking on a mediocre big league career.

Louisiana has its usual solid array of talent, but scouts can't wait until 2003. Southern second baseman Rickie Weeks and Tulane outfielder/lefthander Michael Aubrey project as the top two college prospects in the nation. Louisiana State shortstop Aaron Hill also should be a first-rounder, as should high school righthander/outfielder Xavier Paul and righthander Cain Byrd.

Micah Schilling, 2b
Schilling has dropped a bit this spring as clubs have focused on his shortcomings. He won't play shortstop as a pro because he doesn't have the arm, feet, range or actions. What he does have is one of the smoothest swings in the draft, maybe the best the state has seen since Will Clark was playing his high school ball in New Orleans. A Louisiana State recruit, Schilling reminds area scouts of former Tigers second basemen Todd Walker and Mike Fontenot, and is considered a better hitter than those two first-round picks were at the same stage. He doesn't get out of the batter's box quickly but is a decent runner once he gets going. Schilling will be an offensive player at either second base or left field. He still could go late in the first round, with the Athletics, Braves and Indians showing the most interest.

Nick Bourgeois, lhp
When Bourgeois outdueled Rutgers' Bobby Brownlie in March, he showed that he was back. A hot prospect at Barbe High in Lake Charles, La., in 1999, he didn't get drafted when his velocity plummeted at the end of his senior season. He had shoulder surgery in the summer of 2000 and wasn't healthy until this spring. He's throwing in the 90s with a plus changeup and average curveball. He often throws 86-87 mph in the early innings, then picks up velocity and maintains it for the remainder of the game. Part of the second tier of college pitchers, Bourgeois could sneak into the sandwich round to a team seeking a southpaw.

O.J. King, rhp
The Southland Conference pitcher of the year, King is one of the better senior signs available. Before back spasms slowed him down in May, he showed a 90-93 mph fastball and an 80-82 mph slider. He also made progress with his changeup and throws all three pitches for strikes. Add a strong 6-foot-3, 210-pound build and a fierce competitive nature, and King has a complete package. After spending two years at Connors State (Okla.) JC, he has improved throughout his time with the Demons.

Lee Gwaltney, rhp
Gwaltney's path mirrors King's. He pitched for two years at a national junior college power (McLennan, Texas, CC) and is an attractive senior sign. He wasn't successful in his first taste of NCAA Division I, posting a 6.27 ERA, but made major improvements in 2002 despite his 3-11 record. His best pitch is a plus-plus splitter that may be the best in the college ranks, and he owns a 90-94 mph fastball and a tough slider. His 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame allows him to deliver his pitches on a harsh downward plane. Why Gwaltney hasn't been able to win more often is a mystery. He throws as many as six pitches, and focusing on his three best would seem to be a start. His conditioning was a weakness in the past, but less so this year.

Sean Barker, of
Barker turned down $150,000 as 46th-round pick of the Blue Jays last year and is in line for a bigger bonus in 2002. He's a potential five-tool player with a pro body (6-foot-3, 225 pounds). He ran a 6.45-second 60-yard dash on a track, and he has arm strength to go with this speed, making him a tremendous right fielder. The Bakersfield (Calif.) JC product has hit for average but has shown much more power in batting practice than in games. If he can produce offensively, he'll play in the major leagues.

Nick Tisone, rhp
The top two-way player in the state, Tisone signed with McNeese State rather than LSU or Tulane so he could continue to see time at pitcher and shortstop. He played shortstop at the outset of his high school career, and there's little question he could be a productive college hitter. If he signs, he'll give that up and stay on the mound. He just started pitching a year ago, and his fastball has jumped from 87-88 mph to 89-91, with nice sink to boot. Tisone's slider is a plus pitch, his changeup is above-average and his curveball is a tick below-average. He's not huge at 6 feet and 180 pounds, but his stuff isn't short.

Freddie Lewis, of
Southern had a sandwich pick last year in Michael Woods and should have an early first-rounder next year with Rickie Weeks. Bridging the gap is Lewis, who spent two years playing football and baseball at Mississippi Gulf Coast JC. Like Woods and Weeks, Lewis is athletic. He can run the 60 in 6.4 seconds and is getting stronger. He flashes above-average power at times and should have more consistent pop in the future. The Marlins have been watching Lewis and could pop him as early as the fourth round.

James Jurries, 3b-of
Jurries beat out Mark Teixeira for Baseball America's Freshman of the Year award in 1999. Though Teixeira has eclipsed him and then some, Jurries has had a solid career in spite of injuries. He's Conference USA's 2002 player of the year, and he earned all-league recognition in each of his four seasons. He's a pure hitter with good power. He isn't blessed with a lot of speed but shows good instincts on the bases. The big question is where to play Jurries. His feet and arm may relegate him to first base or left field.

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